Corinne Hindes and Katrine Kirsebom, Warm Winters

In 2011, eleven year olds Corinne Hindes and Katrine Kirsebom noticed homeless people in Walnut Creek, California, who did not have warm clothing during the cold winter months. Warm Winters, was created to address this need.

Both ski racers, the girls saw the lost and found at their ski resorts overflowing with warm coats, hats, and gloves, and decided to ask the resorts if they could donate the unclaimed clothing to the homeless in their hometown. Since then, they have donated over 5,000 items to over 2,500 people.

In 2014, after receiving a Jefferson Award for their work with the homeless, Corinne and Katrine began taking leadership training with The Jefferson Awards Globechangers Leadership program. With the training they have received, they are ready to take Warm Winters national. Their 5-year goal is to be in 10 states, work with 50 to 60 ski resorts, have up to 125 teen leader volunteers (WarmWinTeens), and distribute warm clothing to 50,000 homeless people.

“Although we are just 14 and 15 years old, we are passionate about helping the homeless. Because of our experience as ski racers, we have figured out an easy system to redistribute the unclaimed lost and found clothing to the homeless,” Corinne said.

Funding from the Pollination Project will be used to purchase supplies and marketing materials.